87 dead in two rocket explosions at Aleppo University as students take exams

A handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), shows the scene of an explosion outside Aleppo University, between the university dormitories and the architecture faculty, on January 15, 2013 (AFP Photo / Sana)

At least 87 people have been killed and more than 160 injured in two rocket explosions at the University of Aleppo in Syria’s largest city on Tuesday, city officials reported.

According to a Syrian official quoted by SANA, two rocket shells were fired at the university complex.

Aleppo’s governor Mohammed Wahid Akkad called the rocket strikes a “terrorist attack that targeted students on their first day of exams.”

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed two explosions hit the university. The second blast may have been caused by a burning car, though there has been no independent confirmation, Reuters reports.

The university is located in a government-controlled territory.

Aleppo is Syria's largest city and has been fiercely contested between government forces and rebel fighters, who have battled to a stalemate in the strategically important region.

Rebels have previously previously carried out bomb attacks against government targets in the city.

At least 34 people were killed last October after a string of blasts ripped through Aleppo's main square.

A Syrian man stands in the debris following an explosion outside Aleppo University, between the university dormitories and the architecture faculty, on January 15, 2013 (AFP Photo / STR)

Damaged vehicles are seen outside Aleppo University, between the university dormitories and the architecture faculty, following an explosion on January 15, 2013 (AFP Photo / STR)

Syrian's gather at the scene of an explosion outside Aleppo University, between the university dormitories and the architecture faculty, on January 15, 2013 (AFP Photo / STR)

A handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), shows people inspecting the scene of an explosion outside Aleppo University, between the university dormitories and the architecture faculty, on January 15, 2013 (AFP Photo / Sana)

A handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), shows the scene of an explosion outside Aleppo University, between the university dormitories and the architecture faculty, on January 15, 2013 (AFP Photo / Sana)